(PSIP)
Psychedelic Somatic Integrative Psychotherapy Near Asheville, NC
“Where something becomes extremely difficult and unbearable, there we also stand already quite near its transformation.”
-Rainer Maria Rilke
There’s growing recognition that trauma and painful life experiences are stored in the body—and that it’s through the body that we're able to heal those wounds.
What often feels like a personal failing or an inability to handle life, is actually an adaptive response to past trauma--particularly from childhood. Anxiety, depression, and addictions may be the body’s attempts to survive those difficult circumstances.
Rather than treating symptoms as the problem, PSIP (Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy) aims to reduce the underlying cause. This integrative approach combines somatic release, relational attunement, and therapeutic transference, with the mind-body expansion of psychedelics.
PSIP is built on the trust that your body will naturally self-regulate when given supportive and safe conditions.
Supporting
The nervous system of the client is supported between PSIP sessions through somatic practices such as trauma-informed yoga and dance, time in and connection to nature and integration sessions
The Process
Screening
We begin by screening clients to make sure PSIP is a good fit and will be helpful for them. This therapy is especially beneficial for people dealing with physical, emotional, or relational trauma. However, it may not be appropriate for those who experience episodes of psychosis.
Preparing
As we build a trusting therapeutic relationship, we review your trauma history and explain how the autonomic nervous system works, along with the PSIP process. We also help you develop supportive tools and strategies to prepare for the sessions.
Practicing
Before using psychedelics, we start by practicing body awareness techniques. This helps create the neural pathways needed for the body to begin releasing trauma naturally.
PSIP Sessions
Each PSIP session lasts about two hours. After taking the psychedelic, you focus your attention on your body while minimizing self-soothing actions like small movements and deep breathing. This gently pressures your system to go deeper into the traumatic material.
During the session, your body may shift between fully experiencing the trauma and moments of dissociation. In PSIP, dissociation is seen as an important part of processing trauma and also gives your nervous system a chance to rest.
Typically, your body will begin to release trauma through involuntary, automatic responses that were inhibited or truncated during the original traumatic event. Over time, these movements help release the trauma and bring your nervous system back into a calm, steady state.
FAQS
How is this different from using cannabis or ketamine alone or recreationally?
Combining psychedelics with somatic therapy changes the emphasis of the experience. The therapist will direct your attention to what is happening in your body. This is combined with intentionally suppressing calming habits such as deep breaths, twitching, hand gestures and extraneous talking. The result is heightened awareness of the internal experience and increased pressure on the system which allows for the body to release the trauma naturally.
How is this different from other psychedelic therapy?
Currently, there is a wide range of psychedelic therapies available. PSIP is highly interactive and relational. It specifically targets trauma that is stored in the body, and is highly effective for early childhood attachment trauma.
How do I obtain the psychedelic substances and are they legal?
Ketamine is a legal, prescribed drug. Clients will need to obtain a prescription through a psychiatrist. Cannabis (THCa) can be legally obtained by adults 21 and over at dispensaries in NC.
How many sessions will it take?
This question is difficult to answer since treatment depends on the amount and severity of the client’s trauma. PSIP is best integrated into a full therapeutic experience that includes talk therapy and a regular somatic practice such as yoga, qigong or dance.
Can I drive or work after my session?
Clients should not drive until the effects of the medication have fully worn off. Most clients are able to return to work once they have driven home and the medication’s effects have subsided.